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AN 





ACCOUNT 


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Copy 2 


OF 



LOUISIANA, 



&n Abstract of Documents, 



OFFICES 



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DEPARTMENTS OF STATE, 



THE TREASURY. 



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AN 

ACCOUNT 

OF 

LOUISIANA. 



The object of the following pages is to consolidate 
the information respecting the present state of 
Louisiana, furnished to the Executive by several 
individuals among the best informed upon that 
subject, 

OF the province of Louisiana no general map, 
sufficiently correct to be depended upon, has been 
published, nor has any been yet procured from a 
private source. It is indeed probable, that surveys 
have never been made upon so extensive a scale as 
to afford the means of laying down the various re- 
gions of a country, which, in some of its parts, 
appears to have been but imperfectly explored. 

BOUNDARIES. 

The precise boundaries of Louisiana, westward- 
ly of the Mississippi, though very extensive, are at 
present involved in some obscurity. Data are 
equally wanting to assign with precision its 
northern extent. From the source of the Mis- 
sissippi, it is bounded eastwardly by the middle 
of the channel of that river to the thirty-first 
degree of latitude : thence, it is asserted upon 
very strong grounds, that according to its limits, 
when formerly possessed by France, it stretches 
to the east, as far, at least, as the river Perdigo, 



( • ) 

The rapidity of the current in the spring seasois 
especially, when the waters of all the rivers are 
high, facilitates the descent, so that the same voyage 
by water, which requires three or four months to 
perform from the capital, may be made to it in 
"from twelve to sixteen days. The principal set- 
tlements in Louisiana are on the Mississippi, 
which begins tobe cultivated about twenty leagues 
from the sea, where the plantations are yet thin, 
and owned by the poorest people. Ascending, 
you see them improve on each side, till you reach 
the city, which is situated on the east bank, on a 
bend of the river, 35 leagues from the sea. 

CHAPITOULAS, FIRST AND SECOND 
GERMAN COASTS.— CATAHANOSE.— 
FOURCKE AND IBERVILLE. 

The best and most approved are above the city, 
:md comprehend, what is there known by the Pa- 
roisse de Chapitoulas, Premier and Second Cote 
des Allemands, and extends 16 leagues. 

Above this begins the parish of Catahanose, or 
first Acadian settlement, extending eight leagues 
on the river. Adjoining it and still ascending is the 
second Acadian settkmentorparish of the Fourche, 
which extends about six leagues. The parish of 
Iberville then commences, and is bounded on the 
"east side by the river of the same name, which 
though dry a great part of the year, yet, when the 
Mississippi is raised, it communicates with the 
Lakes Maurepas and Ponchartrain, and through 
.them with the sea and thus forms what is called the 
island of New-Orleans. Except on the point just 
below the Iberville, the country from New Orleans 
is settled the whole way along the river, and pre- 
sents a scene of uninterrupted plantations in sight 
of each other, whose fronts to the Mississippi are 



( 7 > 

all cleared, and occupy on that river from 5 to 25 
acres with a depth of 40; so that a plantation of 5 
acres in front contains 200. A few sugar planta- 
tions are formed in the parish of Catahanose, but 
the remainder is devoted to cotton and provisions, 
and the whole is an excellent soil incapable of be- 
ing exhausted. The plantations are but one deep 
on the island of New-Orleans, and on the opposite 
side of the river as far as the mouth of the Iberville, 
which is 35 leagues above New Orleans. 

BAYOU DE LA FOURCHE.— ATACAPAS7 
AND OPELOUSAS. 

About 25 leagues from the last mentioned place 
on the west side of the Mississippi, the creek or 
Bayou of the Fourche, called in old maps La Ri- 
viere des Chitamaches, flows from the Mississippi, 
and communicates with the sea to the west of the 
Balise. The entrance of the Mississippi is naviga- 
ble only at high water, but will then admit of craft 
of from 60 to 70 tons burthen. On both banks of 
this creek are settlements, one plantation deep, for 
near 15 leagues, and they are divided into two pa- 
rishes. The settlers are numerous, though poor, 
and the culture is universally cotton. On all creeks 
making from the Mississippi, the soil is the same 
as on the bank of the river, andtheborderisthehigh- 
est part of it, from whence it descends gradually to 
the swamp. In no place on the low lands is there 
depth more than suffices for one plantation, before 
you come to the low grounds incapable of cultiva- 
tion. This creek affords one of the communicati- 
ons to the two populous and rich settlements of Ata- 
capas and Opelousas formed on and near the small 
rivers Teche and Vermilion which flow into the 
bay of Mexico. But the principal and swiftest 
communication is by the Bayou or creek of Pla- 
quemines, whose entrance into the Mississippi is 



( 8 ) 

leagues higher up on the same side, and 32 
above New- Orleans. These settlements abound 
in cattle and horses, have a large quantity of good 
land in their vicinity, and may be made of great 
importance. A part of their produce is sent by 
sea to New-Orleans, but the greater part is car- 
ried in batteaux by the creeks above mentioned. 



BATON ROUGE AND ITS DEPENDEN- 
CIES. 

Immediately above the Iberville, and on both 
sides of the Mississippi lies the parish of Manchac* 
which extends 4 leagues on the river, and is well 

L cultivated. Above it commences the settlement of 
Baton Rouge, extending about 9 leagues. It is 
remarkable as being the first place, where the high 
land is contiguous to the river, and here it forms a 
bluff from 30 to 40 feet above the greatest rise of 
Ihe river. Here the settlements extend a consider- 
able way back on the east side; and this parish has 
that of Thompson's creek and Bayou Sara subor- 
dinate to it. The mouth of the first of these creeks 
is about 49 leagues from New Orleans, and that of 
the latter 2 or 3 leagues higher up. They run 
from north- east to south-west, and their head wa- 
ters are north of the 3 1st degree of latitude. Their 
banks have the best soil, and the greatest number 
of good cotton plantations of any part of Louisi- 
ana, and are allowed to be the garden of it. 

POINTE COUPEE S? FAUSSE RIVIERE. 

Above Baton Rouge, at the distance of 50 
leagues from New Orleans, and on the west side 
of the Mississippi is Pointe Coupee, a populous 
and rich settlement, extending 8 leagues along the 
river. Its produce is cotton. Behind it, on an 
old bed of the river, now a lake, whose outlets 
are closed up, is the settlement of Fausse Riviere. 
which is well cultivated. 



( » ) 

In the space now described from the sea as high 
as, and including the last mentioned settlement, is 
contained three- fourths of the population, and 
seven eighths of the riches of Louisiana. 

From the settlement of Pointc Coupee on the 
Mississippi, to Cape Girardeau above the mouth 
of the Ohio, there is no land on the west side 
that is not overflowed in the spring, to the dis- 
tance of 8 or 10 leagues from the river, with from 
2 to 12 feet of water, except a small spot near 
New Madrid ; so that in the whole extent there 
is no possibility of forming a considerable settle- 
ment contiguous to the river on that side. The 
eastern bank has in this respect a decided advan- 
tage over the western, as there are on it many 
situations which effectually command the river. 

RED RIVER AND ITS SETTLEMENTS.^ 

On the west side of the Mississippi, 70 leagues 
from New-Orleans, is the mouth of the Red river, 
on whose banks and vicinity are the settlements of 
Rapide, Avoyelles and Natchitoches, all of them 
thriving and populous. The latter is situate 75 
leagues up the Red river. On the north side of 
the Red river a few leagues from its junction with 
the Mississippi is the Black river, on one of whose 
branches, a considerable way up, is the infant set- 
tlement of Ouachita, which from the richness of 
the soil may be made a place of importance. Cot- 
ton is the chief produce of these settlements, but 
they have likewise a considerable Indian trade. 
The River Rouge, or Red River, is used to com- 
municate with the frontiers of New Mexico. 

CONCORD— ARKANSAS— ST. CHARLES," 
AND ST. ANDREW, &c. 

There is no other settlement on the Mississippi 
except the small one called Concord, opposite to 
the Natchez, till you come to the Arkansas river, 
whose mouth is 250 leagues above New- Orleans. 

B 



(. 10 ) 

Here there are but a few families, who are more 
attached to the Indian trade (by which chiefly they 
live) than to cultivation. There is no settlement 
from this place to New Madrid, which is itself in- 
considerable. Ascending the river you come to 
Cape Girardeau, St. Genevieve and St. Louis, 
where, though the inhabitants are numerous, they 
raise little for exportation, and content themselves 
with trading with the Indians and working a few 
lead mines. This country is very fertile, especi- 
allyonthe banks of the Missouri, where there have 
been formed two settlements, called St. Charles 
and St. Andrew, mostly by emigrants from Ken- 
; tucky. The peltry procured in the Illinois is the 
"test sent to the Atlantic market ; and the quantity 
is very considerable. Lead is to be had with ease, 
and in such quantities as to supply all Europe, if 
the population were sufficient to work the nume- 
rous mines to be found within two or three feet 
from the surface in various parts of the country. 
The settlements about the Illinois were first made 
by the Canadians, and their inhabitants still resem- 
ble them in their aversion to labor, and love of a 
wandering life. They contain but few negroes, 
compared to the number of the whites ; and it 
may be taken for a general rule, that in propor- 
tion to the distance from the capital, the number 
of blacks diminish below that of the whites ; the 
former abounding most on the rich plantations in 
its vicinity. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF UPPER 
LOUISIANA. 

When compared with the Indiana territory, the 
face of the country in Upper Louisiana is rather 
more broken, though the soil is equally fertile. 
It is a fact not to be contested, that the west side 
of the river possesses some advantages, not gene- 



( 11 ) 

rally incident to those regions. It is elevated and 
healthy, and well watered with a variety of large 
rapid streams, calculated for mills and other water 
works. From cape Girardeau, above the mouth of 
the Ohio, to the Missouri, the land on the east 
side of the Mississippi is low and flat, and occasion- 
ally exposed to inundations ; that on the Louisiana 
side, continguous to the river, is generally much 
higher, and in many places very rocky on the shore. 
Some of the heights exhibit a scene truly pictur- 
esque. They rise to a height of at least 300 feet, 
faced with perpendicular lime and free-stone, carv- 
ed into various shapes and figures by the hand of 
nature, and afford jhe appearance of a multitude 
of antique towers. " From the tops of these eleva- 
tions, the land gradually slopes back from the ri- 
ver, without gravel or rock, and is covered with 
valuable timber. It may be said with truth that, 
for fertility of soil, no part of the world exceeds 
the borders of the Mississippi ; the land yields an 
abundance of all the necessaries of life, and almost 
spontaneously ; very little labor being required in 
the cultivation of the earth. That part of Upper 
Louisiana, which borders on North Mexico, is one 
immense prairie ; it produces nothing but grass ; 
it is filled with buffalo, deer, and other kinds of 
game ; the land is represented as too rich for the 
growth of forest trees. 

It is pretended that Upper Louisiana contains in 
its bowels many silver and copper mines, and vari- 
ous specimens of both are exhibited. Several tri- 
als have been made to ascertain the fact ; but the 
want of skill in the artists has hitherto left the sub • 
ject undecided. 

The salt works are also pretty numerous : some 
belong to individuals ; others to the public. They 
already yield an abundant supply for the consump. 



/ 



( 12 ) 

tion of the country ; and if properly managed, 
might become an article of more general exporta- 
tion. The usual price per bushel is 150 cents in 
cash at the works. This price will be still lower 
as soon as the manufacture of the salt is assumed 
b}^ government, or patronised by men who have 
large capitals to employ in the business. One ex- 
traordinary fact relative to salt must not be omit- 
ted. There exists about 1000 miles up the Mis- 
souri, and not far from that river, a Salt Moun- 
tain ! The existence of such a mountain might 
well be questioned, were it not for the testimony 
of several respectable and enterprising traders, 
who have visited it, and who have exhibited seve- 
ral bushels of the salt to the Curiosity of the peo- 
ple of St. Louis, where some of it still remains. 
A specimen of the same salt has been sent to Ma- 
rietta. This mountain is said to be 180 miles 
long, and 45 in width, composed of solid rock 
salt, without any trees, or even shrubs on it. Salt 
springs are very numerous beneath the surface of 
the mountain, and they flow through the fissures 
and cavities of it. Caves of salt-petre are found 
in Upper Louisiana, though at some distance from 
the settlements. Four men on a trading voyage, 
lately discovered one several hundred miles up the 
Missouri. They spent 5 or 6 weeks in the manu- 
facture of this article, and returned to St. Louis 
with 400 weight of it. It proved to be good and 
they sold it for a high price. 

The geography of the Mississippi and Missouri, 
and their contiguity for a great length of way, are 
but little known. The traders assert, that 100 
miles above their junction, a man may walk from 
one to the other in a day ; and it is also asserted, 
that 700 miles still higher up, the portage may be 
crossed in four or five days. This portage is 
frequented by traders, who carry on a consider- 



( 13 ) 

able trade with some of the Missouri Indians — 
Their general route is through Green Bay, which 
is an arm of Lake Michigan ; they then pass into 
a small lake connected with it, and which commu- 
nicates with the Fox river ; they then cross over a 
short portage into the Ouisconsing river, which 
unites with the Mississippi some distance below 
the falls of St. Anthony. It is also said that the 
traders communicate with the Mississippi above 
these falls, through Lake Superior — but their 
trade in that quarter is much less considerable. 

CANAL OF CARONDELET. 

Behind New-Orleans is a canal about li miles 
long, which communicates with a creek called the 
Bayou St. Jean, flowing into Lake Ponchartraim 
At the mouth of it, about 2| leagues from the city 
is a small fort called St. Jean, which commands the 
entrance from the Lake. By this creek the com- 
munication is kept up through the lake and the 
Rigolets to Mobille, and the settlements in West 
Florida. Craft drawing from 6 to 8 feet water can 
navigate to the mouth of the creek, but except in 
particular swells of the lake cannot pass the bar 
without being lightened. 

St. BERNARDO. 

On the East side of the Mississippi, about five 
leagues below New- Orleans and at the head of the 
English bend, is a settlement known by the name 
of the Poblacion de St. Bernardo, or the Terre aux 
Bceufs, extending on both sides of a creek or drain, 
whose head is contiguous to the Mississippi, anci 
which flowing eastward, after a course of 1 8 leagues 
and dividing itself into two branches, falls into the 
sea and lake Borgne. This settlement consists of 
two parishes, almost all the inhabitants of which 



( 14 ) 

are Spaniards from the Canaries, who content 
themselves with raising fowls, corn, and garden 
stuff for the market at New-Orleans. The lands 
cannot be cultivated to any great distance from the 
banks of the creek, on account of the vicinity of 
the marsh behind them, but the place is suscepti- 
ble of great improvement and of affording another 
communication to small craft of from 8 to 10 feet 
draught, between the sea and the Mississippi. 

SETTLEMENTS BELOW THE ENGLISH 
TURN. 

At the distance of 16 leagues below New- Or- 
leans, the settlements on both banks of the ri- 
ver are of but small account. Between these and 
the fort of Plaquemines, the country is overflowed 
in the spring and in many places is incapable of 
cultivation at any time, being a morass almost 
impassible by man or beast. This small tongue 
of land extends considerably into the sea, which 
is visible on both sides of the Mississippi from 
a ship's mast. 

COUNTRY FROM PLAQUEMINES TO 
THE SEA, AND EFFECT OF THE HUR- 
RICANES. 

From Plaquemines to the sea is 12 or 13 leagues. 
The country is low, swampy, chiefly covered with 
reeds, having little or no timber and no settlement 
whatever. It may be necessary to mention here, 
that the whole lower part of the country from the 
English Turn downward is subject to overflowing 
in hurricanes, either by the recoiling of the river 
or reflux from the sea on each side ; and on more 
than one occasion it has been covered from the 
depth of 2 to 10 feet, according to the descent of 
the river, whereby many lives were lost, horses 
and cattle swept away, and a scene of destruction 



( 15 ) 

laid. The last calamity of this kind happened m 
1794 : but fortunately they are not frequent. In 
the preceding year the engineer who superintended 
the erection of the Fort of Plaquemines was drown, 
ed in his house near the fort, and the workmen 
and garrison escaped only by taking refuge on an 
elevated spot in the fort, on which there were not- 
withstanding 2 or 3 feet of water. These hurri- 
canes have generally been felt in the month of 
August. Their greatest fury lasts about 12 hours. 
They commence in the south east, veer about to 
all points of the compass, are felt most severely 
below and seldom extend more than a few leagues 
above New-Orleans. In their whole course they 
are marked with ruin and desolation. Until that 
of 1793, there had been none felt from the year 
1780. 

PASSES, OR MOUTHS OF THE MISSIS- 
SIPPI. 

About 8 leagues below Plaquemines, the Mis- 
sissippi divides itself into three channels, which 
are called the passes of the river, viz. the East, 
South and South West passes. Their course is 
from 5 to 6 leagues to the sea. The space be- 
tween is a marsh with little or no timber on it ; but 
from its situation, it may hereafter be rendered of 
importance. The East pass, which is on the left 
hand going down the river, is divided into two 
branches about two leagues below, viz. the Pass 
alaLoutre, and that known to mariners by the 
name of the Balize, at which there is a small block 
house and some huts of the pilots, who reside only 
here. The first of these secondary channels con- 
tains at present but 8 feet water ; the latter from 
14 to 16 according to the seasons. The South 
pass, which is directly in front of the Mississippi, 
has always been considered as entirely choaked 



( 16 ) 

up, but has 10 feet water. The South West pass, 
which is on the right, is the longest and narrowest 
of all the passes, and a few years ago had 18 feet 
water, and was that by which the large ships al- 
ways entered and sailed from the Mississippi. It 
has now but 8 feet water, and will probably re- 
main so for some time. In speaking of the quan- 
tity of water in the passes, it must be understood 
of what is on the bar of each pass ; for immedi- 
ately after passing the bar, which is very narrow, 
there are from 5 to 7 fathoms at all seasons. 

COUNTRY EAST OF LAKE FONCHAR- 
TRAIN. 

The country on the east side of Lake Ponchar- 
train to Mobille, and including the whole extent 
between the American line, the Mississippi above 
New-Orleans, and the lakes (with the exception 
of a tract of about 30 miles on the Mississippi, 
and as much square, contiguous to the line, and 
comprehending the waters of Thompson's Creek, 
Bayou Sara and the Ametj is a poor thin soil, 
overgrown with pine, and contains no good land 
whatever, unless on the banks of a few small ri- 
vers. It would however afford abundant supplies 
of pitch, tar and pine lumber, and would feed 
large herds of cattle. 

THE INHABITANTS AND THEIR ORI- 
GIN. 

The inhabitants of Louisiana are chiefly the de- 
scendants of the French and Canadians. There 
are a considerable number of English and Ameri- 
cans in New- Orleans. The two German coasts 
are peopled by the descendants of settlers from 
Germany, and a few French mixed with them. 
The three succeeding settlements up to Baton 
Rouge contain mostly Acadians, banished from 



( 17 ) 

Nova Scotia by the English and their descendants. 
The government of Baton Rouge, especially the 
east side, which includes all the country between 
the Iberville and the American line, is composed 
partly of Acadians, a very few French, and of a 
gre^t majority of Americans* On the west side 
they are mostly Acadians : at Point Coupee and 
Faussee river they are French and Acadians — of 
the population of the Atacapas and Opelousas, a 
considerable part is American — Natchito-ches, on 
the Red river, contains but a few Americans, and 
the remainder of the inhabitants are French — but 
the former are more numerous in the other settle- 
ments on that river, viz. Avoyelles, Rapide, and 
Ouacheta. At Arkansas they are mostly French ; 
and at New Madrid, Americans. At least fths, 
if not a greater proportion of all the settlers on the 
Spanish side of the Mississippi, in the Illinois 
country, are likewise supposed to be Americans. 
Below New- Orleans the population is altogether 
French, and the descendants of Frenchmen. 

NEW-ORLEANS. 

By recurring to the maps and examining the 
position of Louisiana, it will appear, that the low- 
er part projects considerably into the sea. It has 
in all probability been formed by the sediment 
brought down by the current and deposited on the 
flat coast. There is therefore on the east side but 
a very narrow slip along the bank of the river, 
from the sea to the Iberville. The land is not ge- 
nerally susceptible of cultivation more than a mile 
in depth from the river, the rest is low and 
swampy to the lakes and the sea, but in general 
abounds with cypress timber, which is sawed by 
mills, which are worked by artificial streams from 
the Mississippi in the time of freshes. They 
generally run five months in the year. 

C 



"( 18 ) 

What has been said of the east equally applies 
to the west side of the river. The soil and situa- 
tion are nearly the same. After leaving the bank 
of the river, there is an immense swamp, inter- 
sected by creeks and lakes, extending to the high 
lands of Atacapas, and occupying a space of thirty 
or forty leagues. 

The city of New- Orleans, which is regularly 
laid out on the east side of the Mississippi, in lat. 
30, N. and long. 90, W. extends nearly a mile 
along the river, from the gate of France on the 
south, to that of Chapitoulas above, and a little 
more than id of a mile in breadth, from the river 
to the rampart ; but it has an extensive suburb on 
the upper side. The houses in front of the town 
and for a square or two backwards, are mostly of 
brick, covered with slate or tile, and many of two 
stories. The remainder are of wood, covered 
With shingles. The streets cross each other at 
right angles, and are 32 French feet wide. The 
squares between the intersections of the streets 
have a front of 300 French feet. There is in the 
middle of the front of the city a place d^armes^ 
facing which the church aid town house are built. 
There are from 12 to 1400 houses in the city and 
suburbs. The population may be estimated at 
10,000, including the seamen and garrison. It 
was fortified in 1793, but the works were origin- 
ally defective, could not have been defended, and 
are now in ruins. The powder magazine is on 
the opposite bank of the river. 

The public buildings and other public property 
in New-Orleans, are as follows : 

Two very extensive brick stores, from 160 to 
180 feet in length, and about 30 in breadth. They 
are one story high and covered with shingles. 

A government house, stables and garden, oc- 
cupying a front of about 220 feet on the river, in 



( 19 ) 

the middle of the town, and extending 336 feet 
back to the next street. 

A military hospital. 

An ill built custom house of wood, almost in 
ruins, in the upper part of the city, near the river. 

An extensive barrack in the lower part of the 
city, fronting on the river, and calculated to lodge 
12 or 1400 men. 

A large lot adjoining the king's stores, with a 
few sheds in it. It serves as a park for artillery. 

A prison, town house, market house, assembly 
room, some ground rents, and the common about 
the town. 

A public school for the rudiments of the Spa- 
nish language. 

A Cathedral church unfinished, and some houses 
belonging to it. 

A charitable hospital, with some houses belong- 
ing to it, and a revenue of 1500 dollars annually, 
endowed by an individual lately deceased. 

The canal de Carondelet has been already de- 
scribed. 

NUMBER OF INHABITANTS. 

According to the annexed census, No. 2, of 
Louisiana, including Pensacola and the Natchez, 
as made in 1785, the whole number of inhabitants 
amounted to 32,062, of which 14,215 were free 
whites, 1,303 free people of color, and 16,544 
slaves. 

The statement, No. 3, from the latest docu- 
ments, makes the whole number 42,375 — the free 
whites, 21,244 — the free people of color, 1,768 — 
and the slaves, 12,920. 

A particular statement respecting the popula- 
tion, &c. of Upper Louisiana, and another con- 
taining the census of New Orleans, in this year, 
are numbered 4 and 5 in the appendix. 



( ao ) 

These papers certainly exhibit a smaller num- 
ber than the real population of the country. From 
an official document, made in July last, and re- 
ceived from Atacapas since the statement, No. 3, 
was formed, it appears that it contained 2,270 
whites, 210 free people of color, 1,266 slaves, in 
all 3,746 souls, instead of 1,447, as therein stated. 
It is highly probable that the return for the neigh- 
boring district of Opelousas, is in the same pro- 
portion underrated. 

A conjectural estimation made by a gentleman 
of great respectability and correct information, re- 
siding at Natchez, raises the number of whites in 
the island of New- Orleans, on the west side of 
the river, and some settlements on the east side, 
j to 50,150, and the number of blacks to 39,820. 
His statement is also subjoined, No, 6. 

It is at all times difficult to obtain the full census 
of a country, and the impediments are encreased 
in this from its scattered population. The actual 
enumeration may therefore fall short of the true 
numbers. 

MILITIA. 
There is a militia in Louisiana. The following 
is the return of it, made to the Court of Spain, by 
the Baron of Carondelet. 

From Balize to the city — volunteers Militia. 
of the Mississippi — 4 companies 
of 100 men each — complete, 400 

City — Battalion of the city, 5 com- 
panies, 500 
Artillery company, with super- 
numeraries, 120 
Carabineers, or privileged com- 
panies of horse, 2 companies 
of 70 each — incomplete, 100 
Mulattoes, 2 companies ; ne- 
groes, 1 do, 300 



( 21 ) 

Mixed legion of the Mississippi, comprehend- 
ing Galveztown, Baton- Rogue, Pointe Coupee, 
Atacapas, and Opelousas, viz. 

2 companies of grenadiers, 

8 do. of fusileers, 

4 do. of dragoons, 

2 do. lately added from Bayou Sara, 



16 companies of 100 men each, 1600 

Avoyelles, 1 company of infantry, 100 

Oucheta, 1 do. of cavalry, 100 
Natchitoches, 1 do. of infantry and 1 

of cavalry, 200 
Arkansas, 1 do. of infantry and ca- 
valry, 100 

Illinois, 4 do. of cavalry, f Th f e «* always 

* j P . r , J > above the com- 800 

4 do of infantry, I piiment. 

Provincial regiment of Germans 
and Acadians, from the 1st Ger- 
man coast to Iberville, 
10 companies, viz. 2 of grenadiers, } mnr> 
8 of fusileers, 5 
Mobille and the country East of 
Lake Ponchartrain, 

2 companies of horse and foot in- 
complete, ... 120 



5,440 
The same gentleman alluded to, page 18, makes 
the number of the militia to amount to 10,340 men 
within the same limits to which his estimate of 
the population applies. He distributes them in 
the several settlements, as follows : 

1. The island of New- Orleans, with 
the opposite margin and the adjacent 
settlements, . - - 5,000 



( 22 ) 

2. The west margin from Manchac, 
including Pointe Coupee, and extend- 
ing to the Red river, - - 800 

3 Atacapas, along the coast, between 
the Delta of the Mississippi and the 
river Sabine, ... 350 

4. Opelousas, - - 750 

5. Red river, including Bayou Boeuf, 
Avoyelles, Rapide, and Natchitoches, 1,000 

6. Ouachita, - - - 300 

7. Concord, - - 40 

8. Arkansas, ... 150 

9. New Madrid and its vicinity, 350 

10. Illinois and Missouri, - 1,000 

11. The settlements on the east side 
of the Mississippi, from the American 
line to the Iberville, and some other 
settlements, - 600 



10,340 
It is to be observed, that none of these state- 
ments include the country beyond the river Sa- 
bine, nor even all those which lie eastwardly of 
it. Data are also wanting to give them. 

FORTIFICATIONS. 

St. Louis has a lieutenant colonel to command 
in it, and but few troops. Baton Rouge is an ill 
constructed fort, and has about 50 men. In de- 
scribing the canal of Carondelet, the small fort 
of St. Jean has been mentioned, as has the block 
house at the Balizc in its proper place. The for- 
tifications of New- Orleans, noticed before, consist 
of five ill constructed redoubts, with a covered 
way, palisade and ditch. The whole is going 
fast to decay, and it is supposed they would be of 
but little service, in case of an attack. Though 
the powder magazine is on the opposite side of the 



( 23 ) 

river, there is no sufficient provision made for its 
removal to the city, in case of need. 

The fort of Plaquemines, which is about twelve 
or thirteen leagues from the sea, is an ill construct- 
ed, irregular brick work, on the eastern side of the 
Mississippi, with a ditch in front of the river, and 
protected on the lower side by a deep creek, flow- 
ing from the river to the sea. It is, however, im- 
perfectly closed behind, and almost without de- 
fence there ; too much reliance having been placed 
on the swampiness of the ground, which hardens 
daily. It might be taken, perhaps, by escalade, 
without difficulty. It is in a degree ruinous. The 
principal front is meant to defend the approach 
from the sea, and can oppose, at most, but eight 
heavy guns. It is built at a turn in the river, 
where ships in general must anchor, as the wind 
which brings them up so far is contrary in the 
next reach which they mostly work through ; and 
they would therefore be exposed to the fire of the 
fort. On the opposite bank are the ruins of a 
small closed redoubt, called Fort Bourbon, usually 
garrisoned by a Serjeant's command. Its fire was 
intended to Hank that of the Fort of Plaquemines, 
and prevent shipping and craft from ascending or 
descending on that side. When a vessel appears, 
a signal is made on one side, and answered on 
the other. Should she attempt to pass, without 
sending a boat on shore, she would be immedi- 
ately fired upon. 

INDIANS. 

The Indian nations within the limits of Loui- 
siana are as far known as follows, and consist of 
the numbers hereafter specified. 

On the eastern bank of the Mississippi, about 25 
leagues above Orleans, the remains of the nation 
of Houmas, or Red Men, which do not exceed 60 



( 24 ) 

persons. There are no other Indians settled on 
this side of the river either in Louisiana or West 
Florida, though they are at times frequented by 
parties of wandering Choctaws. 

On the west side of the Mississippi are the 
remains of the Tounicas settled near, and above 
Pointe Coupee on the river, consisting of fifty or 
sixty persons. 

In the Atacapas. 

On the lower parts of the Bayou Teche at about 
eleven or twelve leagues from the sea are two vil- 
lages of Chitimachas consisting of about hundred 
souls. 

The Atacapas, properly so called, dispersed 
throughout the district, and chiefly on the Bayou 
or creek of Vermilion, about one hundred souls. 

Wanderers of the tribes of Bilexis and Choctaws 
on Bayou Crocodile, which empties into the Teche, 
about fifty souls. 

In the Opelousas to the JV. W. of Atacapas. 

Two villages of Alibamas in the centre of the 
district near the church, consisting of one hundred 
persons. 

Conchates dispersed through the country as far 
West as the river Sabinas and its neighborhood, 
about three hundred and fifty persons. 

On the River Rouge. 

At Avoyelles, nineteen leagues from the Missis- 
sippi, is a village of the Biloni nation, and another 
on the lake of the Avoyelles, the whole about sixty 
souls. 

At the Rapide twenty-six leagues from the Mis- 
sissippi is a village of Choctaws of one hundred 
souls, and another of Biloxes, about two leagues 



\ I 



( 25 ) 

from it, of about one hundred more : About eight 
or nine leagues higher up the Red River is a vil- 
lage of about fifty souls. All these are occasion- 
ally employed by the settlers in their neighbor- 
hood as boatmen. . , m 

About eighty leagues above Natchitoches on 
the Red River is the nation of the Cadoquies, called 
by abbreviation Cados ; they can raise from three 
to four hundred warriors, are the friends of the 
whites and are esteemed the bravest and most 
generous of all the nations in this vast country ; 
they are rapidly decreasing, owing to intemperance 
and the numbers annually destroyed by the Osages 
and Choctaws. 

There are, besides the foregoing, at least four 
to five hundred families of Choctaws, who are dis- 
persed on the west side of the Mississippi, on the 
Ouacheta and Red Rivers, as far west as Natchi- 
toches, and the whole nation would have emigrat- 
ed across the Mississippi had it not been for the 
opposition of the Spaniards and the Indians on 
that side who had suffered by their aggressions. 

On the River Arkansas, &c. 

x Between the Red River and the Arkanzas there 
are but a few Indians the remains of tribes almost 
extinct. On this last river is the nation of the 
same name, consisting of about two hundred and 
sixty warriors, they are brave yet peaceable and 
well disposed, and have always been attached to 
the French and espoused their cause in their wars 
with the Chickasaws, whom they have always re- 
sisted with success. They live in three villages, 
the first is at eighteen leagues from the Mississippi 
on the Arkanzas river, and the others are at three 
and six leagues from the first. A scarcity of game 
on the eastern side of the Mississippi has lately 
induced a number of Cherokees, Choctaws, Chick- 
asaws, &c. to frequent the neighborhood of Ar- 



( 26 ) 

kanzas, where game is still in abundance : they 
have contracted marriages with the Arkan2as, and 
seem inclined to make a permanent settlement and 
incorporate themselves with that nation. The 
number is unknown, but is considerable and is 
every day increasing. 

On the river St. Francis, in the neighborhood 
of New-Madrid, Cape Girardeau, Reviere a la 
Pomme, and the environs, are settled a number of 
vagabonds, emigrants from the Delawares, Shaw- 
nese, Miamis, Chickasaws, Cherokees, Piorias, 
and supposed to consist in all of five hundred fami- 
lies ; they are at times troublesome to the boats 
descending the river, and have even plundered some 
of them and committed a few murders. They 
are attached to liquor, seldom remain long in any 
place, many of them speak English, all understand 
it, and there are some who even read and write it. 

At St. Genevieve in the settlement among the 
whites are about thirty Piorias, Kaskaskias, and 
Ilinois, who seldom hunt for fear of the other 
Indians ; they are the remains of a nation which 
fifty sears ago could bring into the field one thou- 
sand two hundred warriors. 

On the Missouri. 

On the Missouri and its waters are many and 
numerous nations, the best known of which are : 
The Osages, situated on the river of same name on 
the right bank of the Missouri at about eighty 
leagues from its confluence with it : they consist 
of one thousand Warriors, who live in two settle- 
ments at no great distance from each other. They 
are of a gigantic stature and well proportioned, are 
enemies of the whites and of all other Indian nations 
and commit depredations from the Ilinois to the 
Arkanzas. The trade of this nation is said to be 
under an exclusive grant. They are a cruel and 
ferocious race, and are hated and feared by all the 



( 27 ) 

other Indians. The confluence of the Osage river 
with the Missouri is about eight leagues from the 
Mississippi. 

Sixty leagues higher up the Missouri, and on 
the same bank, is the river Kansas, and on it the 
nation of the same name, but at about seventy or 
eighty leagues from its mouth. It consists of 
about two hundred and fifty warriors, who are as 
fierce and cruel as the Osages, and often molest 
and ill treat those who go to trade among them. 

Sixty leagues above the river Kanzas, and at 
abouttwohundred from the mouth of the Missouri, 
still on the right bank, is the Ri°oierre Platte, or 
Shallow River, remarkable for its quick-sands and 
bad navigation ; and near its confluence with the 
Missouri dwells the nation of Octolactos, com- 
monly called Otos, consisting of about two hundred 
warriors, among whom are twenty-five or thirty of 
the nation of Missouri, who took refuge among 
them about twenty-five years since. 

Forty leagues up the River Platte you come to 
the nation of the Panis, composed of about seven 
hundred warriors in four neighboring villages ; 
they hunt but little, and are ill provided with fire 
arms : they often make war on the Spaniards in 
the neighborhood of Santa Fe, from which they 
are not far distant. 

At three hundred leagues from the Mississippi 
and one hundred from the Rher Platte on the 
same bank, are situated the villages of the Mahas. 
They consisted in 1799 of five hundred warriors, 
but are said to have been almost cut off last year 
by the small pox. 

At fifty leagues above the Mahas and on the left 
bank of the Missouri dwell the Poncas,to the num- 
ber of two hundred and fifty warriors, possessing 
in common with the Mahas their language, fe- 



( 28 ) 

rocity, and vices. Their trade has never been of 
much value, and those engaged in it are exposed 
to pillage and ill treatment. 

At the distance of 450 leagues from the Missis- 
sippi, and on the right bank of the Missouri, 
dwell the Aricaras, to the number of 700 warriors, 
and 60 leagues above them, the Mandane nation 
consisting of about 700 warriors likewise. — 
These two last nations are well disposed to the 
whites, but have been the victims of the Sioux, 
or Nandowessies, who being themselves well pro- 
vided with fire arms, have taken advantage of the 
defenceless situation of the others, and have on 
all occasions murdered them without mercy. 

No discoveries on the Missouri, beyond the 
Mandane nation, have been accurately detailed, 
though the traders have been informed, that many 
large navigable rivers discharge their waters into 
it, far above it, and that there are many numerous 
nations settled on them. 

The Sioux, or Mandowessies, who frequent 
the country between the north bank of the Mis- 
souri and Mississippi, are a great impediment 
to trade and navigation. They endeavor to 
prevent all communication with the nations 
dwelling high up the Missouri, to deprive them 
of ammunition and arms, and thus keep them sub- 
servient to themselves. In the winter they are 
chiefly on the banks of the Missouri and massacre 
all who fall into their hands. 

There are a number of nations at a distance from 
the banks of the Missouri, to the north and south, 
concerning whom but little information has been 
received. Returningtothe Mississippi and ascend- 
ing it from the Missouri, about 75 leagues above the 
mouth of the latter, the River Moingona or Riviere 
de Moine enters the Mississippi on the west side, 
and on it are situated the Ayoas, a nation originally 



( 29 ) 

from the Missouri, speaking the language of the 
Otachatas : it consisted of 200 warriors, before 
the small pox lately raged among them. 

The Saes and Renards dwell on the Mississippi, 
about 300 leagues above St. Louis, and frequent- 
ly trade with it — they live together, and consisted 
of 500 warriors — their chief trade is with Michi- 
limakinac, and they have always been peaceable 
and friendly. 

The other nations on the Mississippi higher up, 
are but little known to us. The nations of the 
Missouri, though cruel, treacherous, and insolent, 
may doubtless be kept in order by the United 
Ststes, if proper regulations are adopted with res- 
pect to them. 

It is said that no treaties have been entered into 
by Spain with the Indian nations westward of the 
Mississippi, and that its treaties with the Creeks, 
Choctaws, &c. are in effect superceded by our 
treaty with that power of the 27th October, 1795. 

OF LANDS AND TITLES. 

The lands are held in some instances by grants 
from the crown, but mostly from the Colonial go- 
vernment. Perhaps not one quarter part of the 
lands granted in Louisiana are held by complete 
titles ; and of the remainder a considerable part 
depends upon a written permission of a comman- 
dant. Not a small proportion is held by occupancy 
with a single verbal permission of the officer last 
mentioned. This practise has always been coun- 
tenanced by the Spanish government, in order that 
poor men, when they found themselves a little at 
ease, might at their own conveniency apply for and 
obtain complete titles. In the mean time such im- 
perfect rights were suffered by the government to 
descend by inheritance, and even to be transferred 
by private contract. When requisite, they have 



( 30 ) 

been seized by judicial authority, and sold for the 
payment of debts. 

Until within a few years, the governor of Upper 
Louisiana was authorised to make surveys of any 
extent. In the exercise of this discretionary pow- 
er, some abuses were committed; a few small mo- 
nopolies were created. About three years ago, he 
was restricted in this branch of his duty; since 
which he has been only authorised to make surveys 
to emigrants in the following manner : Two 
hundred acres for each man and wife, fifty acres 
for each child, and twenty acres for each slave. 
Hence the quantity of land allowed to settlers de- 
pended on the number in each family ; and for this 
quantity of land they paid no more than the ex- 
pense of survey. These surveys were necessary to 
entitle the settlers to grants ; and the governor, 
and after him the Intendant at New- Orleans, was 
alone authorised to execute grants on the receipt 
of the surveys from the settlers. The adminis- 
tration of the land office is at present under the 
care of the Intendant of the province. 

There are no feudal rights nor noblesse. 

It is impossible to ascertain the quantity of lands 
granted, without calling on the claimants to exhi- 
bit their titles; the registry being incomplete and 
the maps made by the different surveyors general 
having been burnt in the fires of New-Orleans of 
1788 and 1794. No estimate has been obtained. 

All the lands on both sides of the Mississippi, 
from the distance of sixteen leagues below New- 
Orleans to Baton Rouge, are granted to the depth 
of forty acres, or near half a league, which is the 
usual depth of all grants. Some have double and 
triple grants, — that is to say, they have twice or 
thrice forty acres in depth ; and others have grants 
extending from the Mississippi to the sea or the 
lakes behind them. In other parts of the country 



( 31 ) 

the people, being generally settled on the banks of 
creeks or rivers, have a front of from six to forty 
acres, and the grant almost invariably expresses a 
depth of forty acres. All the lands ungranted in 
the island of New Orleans or on the opposite bankT 
of the Mississippi, are sunken, inundated, and at 
present unfit for cultivation ; but may, in part, be 
reclaimed at a future day by efforts of the rich and 
enterprizing. 

CULTIVATION OF SUGAR. 



The sugar-cane may be cultivated between the 
river Iberville and the cit} T , on both sides of the 
river, and as far back as the swamps. Below the 
city, however, the lands decline so rapidly that 
beyond fifteen miles the soil is not well adapted to 
it. Above the Iberville the cane would be affected 
by the cold, and its produce would therefore be 
uncertain. Within these limits the best planters 
admit that one quarter of the cultivated lands of 
any considerable plantation may be planted in 
cane, one quarter left in pasture, and the remain- 
ing half employed for provisions, &c. and a reserve 
for a change of crops. One Parisian Arpent of 
one hundred and eighty feet square may be ex- 
pected to produce, on an average, twelve hundred 
weight of sugar, and fifty gallons of rum. 

From the above data, admitting that both sides 
of the river are planted for ninety miles in extent 
and about three-fourths of a mile in depth, it will 
result that the annual product may amount in round 
numbers, to twenty -five thousand hogsheads of 
sugar, with twelve thousand puncheons of rum. 
Enterprising young planters say that one-third, or 
even one-half of the arable land might be planted 
in cane. It may also be remarked that a regular 
supply of provisions from above, at a moderate 



( 32 ) 

price, would enable the planter to give his atten- 
tion to a greater body of land cultivated with cane. 
The whole of these lands, as may be supposed, are 
granted ; but in the Atacapas country, there is un- 
doubtedly a portion, parallel to the sea coast, fit 
for the culture of the sugar cane. There vacant 
lands are to be found, but the proportion is at pre- 
sent unknown. 

In the above remarks the lands at Terre aux 
boeuf, on the Fourche, Bayou St. Jean and other 
inlets of the Mississippi, south of the latitude sup- 
posed to divide those which are fit, from those 
which are unfit, for the cultivation of the cane, have 
been entirely kept out of view. Including these 
and taking one-third instead of one-fourth of the 
lands fit for sugar, the produce of the whole would 
be fifty thousand, instead of twenty- five thousand 
hogsheads of sugar. 

The following quantities of sugar, brown, clayed 
and refined, have been imported into the United 
States, from Louisiana and the Floridas, viz. 

In 1799 - - 773,542 lb. 

1800 - - 1,560,865 

1801 - - 967,619 

1802 - - 1,576,935 

\ — ' 

OF THE LAWS. 

When the country was first ceded to Spain, she 
preserved many of the French regulations, but by 
almost imperceptible degrees they have disappear- 
ed, and at present the province is governed entirely 
by the laws of Spain, and the ordinances formed 
expressly for the colony. Various ordinances pro- 
mulgated by general O'Reilly, its first governor 
under Spain, as well as some other laws, are trans- 
lated, and annexed in the appendix, No. 1, 



( 33 ) 
COURTS OF JUSTICE. 

The governor's court has a civil and military 
jurisdiction throughout the province. That of the 
lieutenant governor has the same extent in civil 
cases only. 

There are two alcaldes, whose jurisdiction, civil 
and criminal, extends through the city of New- 
Orleans and 5 leagues around it, where the parties 
have no fuero militar or military privilege; those 
who have can transfer their causes to the gover- 
nor. 

The tribunal of the Intendant has cognizance 
of admiralty and fiscal causes, and such suits as 
are brought for the recovery of money in the king's 
name or against him. 

The tribunal of the Alcalde Provincial has cog- 
nizance of criminal causes, where offences are com- 
mitted in the country, or when the criminal takes 
refuge there, and in other specified cases. 

The ecclesiastical tribunal has jurisdiction in 
all matters respecting the church. 

The governor, lieutenant governor, Alcaldes, 
Intendant, Provincial Alcalde, and the Provisor 
in ecclesiastical causes, are respectively sole judg- 
es. All sentences affecting the life of the culprit, 
except those of the Alcalde Provincial, must be 
ratified by the superior tribunal, or captain general, 
according to the nature of the cause, before they 
are carried into execution. The governor has 
not the power of pardoning criminals. An audi- 
tor and an assessor, who are doctors of law, are 
appointed to give counsel to those judges ; but 
for some time past there has been no assessor. If 
the judges do not consult those officers or do not 
follow their opinions, they make themselves re- 
sponsible for their decisions. 

E 



( 34 ) 

The commandants of districts have also a species 
of judicial power. They hear and determine all 
pecuniary causes not exceeding the value of one 
hundred dollars. When the suit is for a larger 
sum, they commence the process, collect the proofs 
and remit the whole to the governor, to be decided 
by the proper tribunal. They can inflict no corpo- 
ral punishment except upon slaves; but they have 
the power of arresting and imprisoning when they 
think it necessary; advice of which and their rea- 
sons must be transmitted to the governor. 

Small suits are determined in a summary way 
by hearing both parties viva voce ; but in suits 
of greater magnitude the proceedings are carried 
on by petition and reply, replication and rejoin- 
der, reiterated until the auditor thinks they have 
nothing new to say. Then all the proofs either 
party chooses to adduce are taken before the 
keeper of the records of the court, who is always 
a notary public. 

The parties have now an opportunity of making 
their remarks upon the evidence by way of peti- 
tion, and of bringing forward opposing proofs. 
When the auditor considers the cause as mature, 
he issues his decree, which receives its binding 
force from the governor's signature, where the 
cause depends before him. 

There is an appeal to Havanna, if applied for 
within five days after the date of the decree, in 
causes above a certain value. An ulterior appeal 
lies to the Audience which formerly sat at St. Do- 
mingo, but which is now removed to some part of 
Cuba, and from thence to the council of the Indies 
in Spain. 

Suits are of various durations. In pecuniary 
matters the laws encourage summary proceedings. 
An execution may be had on a bond in four days 
and in the same space on a note of hand after the 



( 35 ) 

party acknowleges it, or after his signature is 
proved. Moveable property is sold after giving 
nine days warning, provided it be three times 
publicly cried in that interval. Landed property 
must be likewise cried three times, with an interval 
of nine days between each, and it may then be sold. 
All property taken in execution must be appraised 
and sold for at least half of the appraisement. In 
pecuniary matters the governors decide verbally 
without appeal, when the sum does not exceed one 
hundred dollars. The Alcades have the same privi- 
lege when the amount is not above twenty dollars. 

In addition to these courts, fours years ago there 
were established four Alcades de Barrio, or petty 
magistrates, one for each of the four quarters of the 
city, with a view to improve its police. They hear 
and decide all demands not exceeding ten dollars, 
exercise the power of committing to prison, and in 
case of robbery, riot, or assassination, they can, by 
calling on a notary, take cognizance of the affair ; 
but when this is done they are bound to remit the 
proceedings to some of the other judges, and in all 
caes whatever, to give them information when they 
have committed any person to prison. 

Most of the suits are on personal contracts, 
rights to dower, inheritances, and titles to land. 
Those arising from personal quarrels are generally 
decided in a summary way. The inhabitants are 
said not to be litigious. 

.AWYERS AND COSTS OF THE COURTS 
AND THEIR OFFICERS. 

The number of lawyers is small, not exceeding 

three or four attornies. Their fees are small. Suits 

are carried on in writings called escritos, which 

may be drawn up by the parties themselves, if they 

>lease,but they must be presented by the escribano 



( 36 ) 

or notary who is the keeper of the records of the 
court. 

The fees of the judges are twenty-five cents for 
every half signature or flourish (which is usually 
affixed on common occasions,) fifty cents for every 
whole signature, and two dollars and three fourths 
for every attendance, as at a sale or the taking 
of evidence. 

The fees of the Abogado, or person consulted 
by the judges on law points, are twelve and a half 
cents for every leaf of which the process consists, 
and four dollars for every point of law cited. Those 
of the attorney, when employed, are sixty- two and 
a half cents for a simple petition or escrito, but if 
it should be necessary to read a process in order to 
form his petition, and it should require much time 
and l^bor, he is compensated in proportion, be- 
sides twelve and a half cents per leaf for perusing 
the papers. For attendance on any business he is 
allowed one dollar and fifty cents for the Assistance 
of two and an half hours. The notary has fifty cents 
for each decree or order of the judge, twenty-five 
cents for a notification in his office, and fifty cents 
for one out of it, but within the city ; one dollar 
and seven-eighths for every attendance of two and 
an half hours on business, and twenty- five cents 
additional for every leaf of paper written by him. 

A councellor or two have sometimes resided at 
New Orleans, butbeing generally found obnoxious 
to the officers of the government, they have not 
continued there. The counsellor values his own 
services and in general exacts large sums. The 
attorney generally receives from the party who em- 
ploys him, more than is allowed by law. 



( 37 ) 

CRIMES, CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE, 
AND PUNISHMENTS. 

In cases of petty crimes, the cognizance of the 
proper court may be said to be final and without 
appeal ; and most commonly such causes are de- 
cided in a summary way. With respect to crimes 
of deeper dye more solemnity is used. A person 
skilled in the laws is always nominated by the court 
to defend the accused. The trial is not public ; 
but examinations and depositions in writing are 
taken privately by the auditor at the time most 
convenient to himself, at which nevertheless the 
counsel of the accused is admitted to be present. 
He has also every kind of privilege granted to him 
in making his defence. Such suits <ire generally 
very tedious and expensive, when he is wealthy. 
The condemned is entitled to an appeal as in civil 
cases, provided he gives security for the payment 
of the future costs. There appears, however, to 
be a virtual appeal in every capital condemnation, 
because a stay of execution takes place until the 
confirmation of the sentence returns from St. Jago 
de Cuba, where there is a grand tribunal estab- 
lished, consisting of five judges, before whom 
counsellors plead as in our courts. 

Crimes of great atrocity are very rare. Murder 
by stabbing seems to be confined to the Spanish 
soldiers and sailors. The terror of the magis- 
trate's power restrains assaults, batteries, riots, &c. 

Punishments are generally mild. They mostly 
consist of imprisonment and payment of costs, 
sometimes the stocks. White men, not military, 
are rarely, perhaps never degraded by whipping ; 
and in no case do any fines go into the public trea- 
sury. Murder, arson and aggravated robbery of 
the king's treasury or effects, are punished with 
death. Robbery of private persons to any amount 



( 38 ) 

is never punished with death, but by restitution, 
imprisonment, and sometimes enormous costs. — 
Crimes against the king's revenue, such as con- 
traband trade, are punished with hard labor for 
life, or a term of years, on board the gallies, in 
the mines, or on the public works. 

LEARNING. 

There are no colleges, and but one public school, 
which is at New Orleans. The masters of this 
are paid by the king. They teach the Spanish 
language only. There are a few private schools 
for children. Not more than half of the inhabi- 
tants are supposed to be able to read and write, of 
whom not more than two hundred perhaps are able 
to do it well. In general the learning of the inha- 
bitants does not extend beyond those two arts ; 
though they seem to be endowed with a good na- 
tural genius, and an uncommon facility of learning 
whatever they undertake. 

THE CHURCH. 

The clergy consists of a bishop, who does not 
reside in the province, and whose salary of four 
thousand dollars is charged on the revenue of 
certain bishopricks in Mexico and Cuba ; two 
canons having each a salary of six hundred dollars, 
and twenty-five curates, five for the city of New- 
Orleans, and twenty for as many country parishes, 
who receive each from three hundred and sixty to 
four hundred and eighty dollars a year. Those 
salaries, except that of the bishop, together with 
an allowance for sacristans and chapel expenses, 
are paid by the treasury at New Orleans, and 
amount annually to thirteen thousand dollars. 

There is also at that place a convent of Ursulines 
to which is attached about a thousand acres of 
land, rented out in three plantations. The nuns 



( 39 ) 

are now in number not more than ten or twelve, 
and are all French. There were formerly about 
the same number of Spanish ladies belonging to 
the order ; but they retired to Havanna during the 
period when it was expected that the province 
would be transferred to France. The remaining 
nuns receive young ladies as boarders and instruct 
them in reading, writing, and needle-work. 

They have always acted with great propriety, 
and are generally respected and beloved throuh- 
out the province. With the assistance of an an- 
nual allowance of six hundred dollars from the 
treasury, they always support and educate twelve 
female orphans. 

OF THE OFFICERS OF GOVERNMENT. 

The officers who are merely judicial, have been 
already mentioned, and therefore some of them 
will be altogether omitted in this place. The exe- 
cutive officers appointed by the governor, for each 
division of the province, and called Comman- 
dants, are generally taken from the army, or the 
militia. When the settlement is small, some re- 
spectable character is appointed to the civil com- 
mand, and the militia officer has the direction of 
military matters. Where there is a garrison, the 
commandant is sub-delegate of the Intendant, and 
draws upon him for all expenses incurred. In 
that case he has the charge of all matters relating 
to the revenue within his district. 

The duty of commandants is to superintend the 
police, preserve the peace of the district, ex- 
amine the passports of travellers, and to suffer no 
strangers to settle within the limits of their com- 
mand, without regular leave obtained from go- 
vernment. They are to prevent smuggling, to 
certify that all lands, petitioned for by the inhabi- 
tants, are vacant before they are granted, and 



( 40 ) 

when required, put the owner in possession. They 
are besides notaries public, and in their offices it 
is necessary to register all sales of lands and slaves 
and even to make the contracts for those purposes, 
before them. They act as sheriffs, levy execu- 
tions on property, attend and certify the sale, and 
collect the proceeds. They also take inventories 
of the property of intestates. By an ordnance of 
baron Carondelet, Syndics are established every 
three leagues, who are subordinate to the com- 
mandant, decide small causes, and have the po- 
lice of roads, levies, travellers, and negroes. 

The officers of the general government are the 
following : Beside his judicial power, the Go- 
vernor is chief of the army and militia, and the 
head of the civil government. He is also presi- 
dent of the Cabildo, or Provincial Council. He 
appoints and removes at pleasure the comman- 
dants of districts. He appoints the officers of the 
militia, who are nevertheless commissioned by the 
king, and he recommends military officers for 
preferment. He is superintendant of Indian af- 
fairs. He promulgates ordinances for the good 
government and improvement of the province; but 
he has no power to assess taxes upon the inhabi- 
tants without their consent. Until the year 1798 
he possessed the sole power of granting lands, 
but it then passed into the hands of the Inten- 
dant. 

The Cabildo is an hereditary council of 
twelve, chosen originally from the most 
wealthy and respectable families. The go- 
vernor presides over their meetings. Their 
office is very honorable, but it is acquired 
by purchase. They have a right to repre- 
sent, and even remonstrate to the governor, in 
respect to the interior government of the Pro- 



( 41 ) 

vince. The police of the city is under their con- 
trol and direction. In it they regulate the admis- 
sion of physicians and surgeons to practice. Two 
members of the Cabildo serve by turn monthly, 
and take upon themselves the immediate superin- 
tendance of markets, bakers, streets, bridges, and 
the general police of the city. This council dis- 
tributes among its members several important 
offices, such as Alguazil Mayor, or High Sheriff, 
Alcalde Provincial, Procureur General, &c. The 
last mentioned is a very important charge. The 
person who holds it is not merely the king's attor- 
ney, but an officer peculiar to the civil law. He 
does not always prosecute ; but alter conviction 
he indicates the punishment annexed by law to 
the crime, and which may be, and is mitigated 
by the court. Like the chancellor in the Eng- 
lish system, he is the curator and protector of or- 
phans, &c. and finally, he is the expounder of the 
\ x w, the defender of the priviledges belonging to 
i z town, province or colony, and the accuser of 
e . ery public officer that infringes them. 

The Cabildo is also vested with a species of ju- 
dicial authority, for which, and for a further elu- 
cidation of its constitution, and the functions of 
the officers springing from it, see the Appendix 
No. I. 

The Intendant is chief of the departments of 
finance and commerce, and exercises the judicial 
powers already mentioned. He is entirely inde- 
pendent of the governor, and no public monies 
can be issued without his express order. The 
land office is under his direction. 

The Contador, Treasurer and Interventor, are 
officers subordinate to the Intendant. The first 
has four clerks under him, and keeps all accounts 
and documents respecting the receipt and expen- 
diture of the revenue, and is therefore a check 

F 



( 42 ) 

upon the Intendant. The treasurer is properly 
no more than a cashier, and is allowed one clerk. 
The Interventor superintends all public purcha- 
ses, and bargains. The Administrador is also sub- 
ordinate to the Intendant, and with a number of 
inferior officers, manages every thing respecting 
the custom house. Every clerk in these offices 
receives his commission from the king. 

The Auditor is the king's counsel, who is to 
furnish the governor with legal advice in all cases 
of judicial proceedings, whether civil or military. 

The Assessor's functions are similar to those 
of the Auditor, and are properly applicable to the 
Intendant' s department. 

Both of the officers last mentioned are also the 
counsellors of some of the other tribunals, as be- 
fore intimated. 

A Secretary of the government and another 
of the Intendency. 

A Surveyor General. 

A Harbor Master. 

A Store Keeper, who takes charge of all 
public moveable property. 

An Interpreter of the French and Spanish 
languages, and a number of other inferior officers. 

All appointments in the province with a salary 
of more than thirty dollars per month are made by 
the king, and most of those with a lower salary by 
the Governor or Intendant as belongs to their re- 
spective departments. There are no officers cho- 
sen by the people. 



( 43 ) 

The salaries and perquisites of the principal offi- 
cers are as follow : 



Governor annually, 6,000 p. 


salary 


2,000 p. perquisites 


Intendant, 4,000 




none 


Auditor, 2,000 




2,000 


Contador, 2,000 




none 


Assessor, 1,200 




1,000 


Treasurer, 1,200 




none 


Administrador, 1,200 




none 


Secretary of government, 600 




2,000 



The commandants of districts receive each 100 
dollars from the king annually, unless they are 
possessed of a military employment or pension. 

TAXES AND DUTIES. 

Instead of paying local taxes, each inhabitant is 
bound to make and repair roads, bridges, and em- 
bankments through his own land. 

A duty of six per cent, is payable at the custom 
house, on the transfer of shipping. It is ascertained 
upon the sum, the buyer and seller declare to be 
the real consideration. As no oath is required 
from either, they seldom report more than half the 
price. 

The following taxes are also payable in the Pro- 
vince. 

Two per cent, on legacies and inheritances, 
coming from collaterals and exceeding 2,000 dol- 
lars. 

Four per cent, on legacies, given to persons who 
are not relatives of the testator. 

A tax on civil employments, the salaries of 
which exceed 300 dollars annually, called media 
annata, amounting to half of the first year's sala- 
ry. By certain officers, it is to be paid in two annual 
instalments, and by others in four. The first per- 



( 44 ) 

son appointed to a newly created office pays no- 
thing, but the tax is levied on all who succeed 
him. 

Seven dollars is deducted from the sum of 20 
paid as pilotage by every vessel entering or 
leaving the Mississippi ; but the treasury provides 
the boats, and pays the salary of the pilots and 
sailors employed at the Balize. The remainder 
of the 20 dollars is thus distributed: — To the head 
pilot 4 — to the pilot who is in the vessel 4, and 5 
to the crew of the row boat, that goes out to put 
the pilot on board, or take him ashore. 

A tax of 40 dollars per annum for licences to 
sell liquors. 

A tax on certain places when sold, such as those 
of Regidor, Notary, Attorney, &c. 

But the principal tax is that of 6 per cent, levied 
on all imports and exports, according to a low 
Tariff. The proceeds of which nett about 
120.000 dollars, whilst all the other taxes are said 
not to yield more than 5 or 6 thousand dollars an- 
nually. 

EXPENSES AND DEBT. 

The expenses of the present government, com- 
prehending the pay and support of the regiment of 
Louisiana, part ot a battalion of the regiment of 
Mexico, a company of dragoons, and one of 
artillery, which form the garrison of the country, 
including Mobille; the repairs of public build- 
ings and fortifications ; the maintenance of a few 
gallies to convey troops and stores throughout the 
province; Indian presents and salaries of officers, 
clergy, and persons employed for public purposes, 
amount to about 650,000 dollars. A sum in 
specie, which does not generally exceed 400,000 
dollars, is annually sent from Vera Cruz ; but 
this, together with the amount of duties and taxes 



< 45 ) 

collected in the province, leaves usually a defi- 
ciency of one hundred or one hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars, for which certificates are issued 
to the persons who may have furnished supplies, or 
to officers and workmen for their salaries. Hence 
a debt has accumulated, which it is uaid, amounts 
at present to about 450,000 dollars. It bears no 
interest, and is now depreciated 3 ) per cent. The 
latter circumstance has taken place not from want 
of confidence in the eventual payment of the cer- 
tificates ; but from the uncertainty of the time 
when, and the want and general value of specie. 
The whole of this debt is said to be due to the 
inhabitants, and to American residents. It would 
have been long since paid oif, but for a diversion 
of the funds, destined for that purpose, to differ- 
ent and external objects. 

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 

The productions of Louisiana are — sugar, cot- 
ton, indigo, rice, furs, and peltry, lumber, tar, 
pitch, lead, flour, horses, and cattle. Population 
alone is wanting to multiply them to an astonishing 
degree. The soil is fertile, the climate salubrious, 
and the means of communication between most 
parts of the province certain, and by water. 

The following has been received as a sketch of 
the present exports of Louisiana, viz. 

Dollars. 
20,000 bales of cotton, } 

of 3 cwt. each, at 20 > 1,344,000 increasing. 

cents per lb. ) 

45,000 casks of sugar, } 

10 cwt. each, at 6 V 302,400 ditto. 

cents per lb. } 

800 do. molasses, 100 7 

gallons each. $ 32 > 000 dltto ' 






( 46 ) 

Indigo, i. - 100,000 ? diminishing 

& 5 rapidly. 

Peltry, - - 200,000 

Lumber, - - 80,000 

Lead, corn, horses, and 

cattle, uncertain, 
All other articles, suppose 100,000 



2,158,000 



According to official returns in the Treasury of 
the United States, there were imported into our 
territory from Louisiana and the Floridas, mer- 
chandise to the following amounts, in the several 
years prefixed : 

Dollars. 

In 1799 to the value of 507,132 

1800 - - 904,322 

1801 - - 956,635 

1802 - - 1,006,214 

According to the same authority, which makes 
the total of the exports to amount to 2,158,000 
dollars, the imports, in merchandise, plantation 
utensils, slaves, he. amount to two and an half 
millions, the difference being made up by the mo- 
ney introduced by the government, to pay the 
expenses of governing and protecting the colony. 

According to the returns in the Treasury of the 
United States, exports have been made to Loui- 
siana and the Floridas, to the following amount in 
the years prefixed : 

In 1799 to the value of 

3,056,268 in foreign articles. 
447,824 in domestic do. 



Dollars, 3,504,092 






{ 47 ) 

\ 1,795,127 in foreign articles, 
240,662 in domestic do. 



Dollars, 2,035,789 



T irhi C 1,770.794 in foreign articles. 

In 1801 - < j 37^204 in domestic do. 



Dollars, 1,907,998 



T qao S 1j054,600 in foreign articles. 

in 180^2 - £ 170,110 in domestic do. 



Dollars, 1,224,710 




It is to be observed that if the total of the im- 
ports and exports into and from these provinces 
(of which the two Floridas are but a very unim- 
portant part, with respect to both) be as above 
supposed, viz. 

Imports, - - 2,500,000 dollars 

Exports, - 2,158,000 

Making together - 4,658,000 

The duty of six per cent, ought alone to produce 
the gross sum of two hundred seventy-nine thou- 
sand four hundred and eighty dollars, and that 
the difference between that sum and its actual 
nett produce, arises partly from the imperfect 
tariff by which the value of merchandise is ascer- 
tained, but principally from the smuggling, which 
is openly countenanced by most of the revenue 
officers. 

MANUFACTURES. 

There are but few domestic manufactures. The 
Acadians manufacture a little cotton into quilts and 



\ 



/ 



( 48 ) 

cottonades ; and in the remote parts of the pro. 
vince, the poorer planters spin and weave some 
negro cloths of cotton and wool mixed. There is 
one machine for spinning cotton in the parish of 
Iberville, and another in the Opelousas ; but they 
do little or nothing. In the city, besides the trades 
which are absolutely necessary, there is a consi- 
derable manufacture of cordage, and some small 
ones of shot and hair powder. There are likewise 
in, and within a few leagues of the town, twelve 
distilleries for making taffia, which are said to 
distil annually a very considerable quantity ; and 
one sugar refinery, said to make about 200,000 
lbs. of loaf sugar. 

NAVIGATION EMPLOYED IN THE 
TRADE OF THE PROVINCE. 

In the year 1802 there entered the Mississippi 
two hundred and sixty-eight vessels of all descrip- 
tions, eighteen of which were public armed vessels, 
and the remainder merchantmen, as follows, viz. 

French. 





American. 


Spanish 


Ships, 


48 


14 


Brigs, 


63 


17 


Polacres, 


- 


4 


Schooners, 


50 


61 


Sloops, 


9 


1 


Total, 


170 


97 



Of the number of American vessels, twenty- 
three ships, twenty-five brigs, nineteen schooners, 
and five sloops came in ballast, the remainder were 
wholly, or in part laden. 

Five Spanish ships and seven schooners came m 
ballast. The united tonnage of all the shipping 



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